Major improvements to the Minot Forest trail network are in process, and some are already complete — including a new off-street parking area. New trails are also planned. 

Garry Buckminster, the head of the Department of Natural Resources, said that the town first applied for a MassTrails grant during the pandemic. The town was awarded a $50,000 grant last year, and he and his department got to work with help from the Minot Forest Committee, the Wareham Land Trust and the Wildlands Trust.  

One major improvement is access to trails. Now, there is a dedicated off-street parking area located on Indian Neck Road. Historically, the only off-street parking for the site was at the old Minot Forest School.

“We took a beat-up area and beautified it,” Buckmonster said.

Buckminster said that crossroads are planned where the trails intersect with Crooked River Road, Indian Neck Road and Stillman Road. 

New kiosks and signage are also in the works. Kiosks will feature trail maps and “information on what you see in the woodlands,” Buckminster said. 

Color-coded trail markers will be added, and the Wildlands Trust will help the town with digital mapping of the conservation land.

Buckminster said the town used some of the grant funds to purchase a mini ski steer — a piece of equipment used to move downed trees and large rocks and to level out trails. Whenever possible, Buckminster said the town is making use of natural materials salvaged from trail clearing and other projects around town. 

Some new trails are planned, and Buckminster said he and other officials are working on figuring out how to best connect trails both within Minot Forest and with neighboring conservation land owned by the Wareham Land Trust, Wildlands Trust and the Mass Audubon Society.

Buckminster said that Minot Forest is the largest piece of conservation land the town owns, and his goal is to get the trail network to meet the same standards as those maintained by non-profits.

“We went full throttle to get this moving for everybody, and I'm probably going to be the one that’s most excited when we get it done,” Buckminster said. 

He said that the town aims to complete a majority of the improvements before the summer. While there isn’t a need for volunteers at this point in the process, Buckminster said that he may reach out for volunteer help at some point. 

The trails are open to walkers and mountain bikers. No camping, motorized vehicles, hunting or littering is allowed.